WWF Nepal marks 32nd anniversary with conservation awards and scholarships

KATHMANDU: WWF Nepal commemorated its 32nd anniversary today with a formal event.

The inauguration was led by Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, who attended as the chief guest.

In his address, Minister Thakuri praised the conservation efforts of WWF Nepal and its various partners across the country. He also highlighted the recently convened Sagarmatha Sambaad as a key government initiative aimed at advancing national conservation goals.

Dr Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative for WWF Nepal, stressed the importance of collaboration with diverse stakeholders in achieving effective conservation outcomes. He expressed gratitude to individuals and organisations that have played a significant role in conservation efforts in Nepal.

To mark the occasion, WWF Nepal announced the recipients of several prestigious scholarships for students pursuing studies in related fields.

The Chandra Gurung Memorial Fellowship was awarded to Astha Pokharel and Satish Paudel for their potential in conservation. The Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer Memorial Scholarship was granted to Chitra Mahatara, while the Jennifer Headley Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Laxmi Khadka and Shovini Maskey to support their academic pursuits.

Further, the Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship was conferred upon Bimal Rokaya and Reshma Gurung, and the Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Roshan Tajpuriya and Sanjivani BK.

In recognition of outstanding contributions to conservation, WWF Nepal presented its annual WWF Nepal Conservation Awards. The recipients this year included Arjun Kumar Karki for his dedication to elephant conservation, Doma Paudel for her pioneering work as Nepal’s first female nature guide, and Gobinda Bahadur Singh for his efforts in habitat conservation and animal welfare through community-based initiatives and key publications.